Independence is Also a Personal Responsibility

As Americans across our nation and those serving overseas celebrate Independence Day on the  236^th birthday of our beloved country, we certainly have much to be thankful for in regard to basic freedoms and liberties. Other countries such as Syria and Libya are all struggling today just to find their basic form of governance, and people suffer unnecessarily as a result.

Americans, while proud of our heritage and sacrifices that made us the envy of the world, are also expressing concern about the overall course and direction of our nation. While we celebrate our independence, guardians of freedom are greatly concerned about our growing dependence on government and lack of individual responsibility for our own actions and future.

Consider these sobering statistics: Our national debt of $15.8 trillion exceeds our entire gross domestic product; half of all households pay no income tax; Congress has not passed a budget in three years; and food stamp recipients have grown from 23.8 million to 46.1 million in the last eight years while government spending for this program has doubled from $37.6 billion in 2008 to $75.7 billion in 2011.

Americans are caring people. We have also traditionally been good stewards of resources, which is why we have experienced tremendous growth and success over the previous 200 years. True charity comes from the heart, not from government coffers. Is charity now being redefined by how much the government takes from some so it can give to others?

As we celebrate independence with our families, maybe we all should spend a little time reassessing what independence really means. Perhaps one of our former presidents said it best:

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed − else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”
 − Dwight D. Eisenhower

New Smartphone App Helps Texans Conserve Energy, Protect Jobs, Businesses

With communities around the state hitting triple digit temperatures, we are hitting the peak season for energy usage. Low-cost, reliable energy is a key ingredient to job growth and doing business, but adverse rulings by overbearing federal regulators, along with disincentives to build more capacity, are leaving Texans vulnerable to rolling blackouts.

Last year, some Texans had to deal to with power outages due to large amounts of energy being consumed on a daily basis accompanied by an inadequate amount of available energy during extreme conditions. In an effort to ease the possibility of repeated threats to our electrical grid, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has created a free mobile smartphone app that will help Texas electricity users more easily conserve energy and stay abreast of energy demand across the majority of the state. When there is high electricity demand and need for conservation, the application will send users energy-saving tips and energy emergency alerts.

Conservation makes good sense in both the private and business community. Thanks to ERCOT’s smartphone app, Texas has a new tool for conserving energy when grid conditions are strained. Together, our conservation efforts will contribute to the vitality of our Texas economy.

To download the free ERCOT Energy Saver app on your iPhone or Android device click here or find it by typing “ERCOT” into the search bar of Apple and Google app stores. 

City of Irving Fights Hunger With Summer Meals

Angela Olige

TDA Chief Administrator for Food and Nutrition Division

Guest Blog

Partnerships release the power of possibilities, which is why I was excited recently to visit the city of Irving  to attend a summer nutrition program kick-off event. Through federally funded summer feeding program partnerships, children who depend on school meals for daily nourishment can still get healthy food at local feeding sites when school is out of session.

In Irving, I felt like a kid again as we all enjoyed physical activities and the chance to discuss the 3E’s of Healthy Living — Education, Exercise and Eating Right. After we finished jumping jacks and several other interactive activities, I “deputized” each of the children as 3E’s Ambassadors.

Wherever you are in Texas, you can help children find healthy meals this summer. Tell their parents to call 2-1-1 or visit summerfood.org to find a nearby site where a TDA partner is providing meals.

Obamacare Upheld, But Fight Continues

The Supreme Court narrowly ruled in favor of Obamacare today, but I’m confident the fight is not over. Those who passed the president’s health care mandate are celebrating their initial victory, but in the end, the will of the people will not stand for backdoor politicking and clandestine government overreach.

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi once famously said, “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it.” President Obama then said “…not a tax…” Well, thanks to the Supreme Court, it is now confirmed “what is in it” is new taxes. The boundaries of our federal government to leverage higher taxes on all Americans have been expanded.

Your health care decisions should be made by you and your doctor, and we should never allow a government bureaucracy or bureaucrat to interfere with that critical relationship. No one respects that relationship more than rural Texans who value the direct relationships they have with their doctors and the ability to make their own decisions based on that patient-doctor relationship.

Through TDA’s Texas State Office of Rural Health (SORH), we are daily working to improve rural health care accessibility by respecting market principles and individual freedoms. The SORH works with rural health providers to maximize the use of available resources to address medical personnel recruitment, infrastructure and equipment needs, along with expanding telemedicine.

Yes, there is shouting in the streets today, but it’s not all cheering for Obamacare. There are voices energized to fight for an America where we face fewer taxes and our grandchildren are not saddled with a government spending spree that creates a dangerous debt that will paralyze future generations. 

McCan Makes a Case for Mexico Joining TPP Trade Discussions

Expanding markets is essential to the economic viability of Texas agriculture producers, which is why Texas cattleman and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President Bob McCan recently offered some pertinent comments about the need for including Mexico in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade discussions. To read more about McCan’s interest in inviting our second-largest export market to join the United States and other TPP countries, go here.

Summer Starts Today

After a scorching hot Father’s Day weekend, it was hard to believe it was still spring. That officially changes today as we mark the first day of summer and all the excitement that comes with it.

Summer reminds us of barbecues by the pool, trips to the beach with our friends and snacking on delicious Texas watermelon. It’s also a great time to explore the state’s beautiful rural destinations and day-trip getaways. Whether you’re looking for farmers markets, winery tours or small-town shopping, you’ll find plenty to please the entire family here in the Lone Star State.

And, of course, it’s going to be hot so be sure to keep cool and hydrated, but also be mindful of your water usage this summer. Following last year’s historic drought, we need to take a serious look at our individual water-use habits and find common-sense ways to conserve. As part of the ongoing statewide Texas Water Smart conservation campaign, I’m reminding all Texans that a few drops saved, when multiplied by 26 million citizens, goes a long way toward conserving water and protecting jobs and landscapes.

It’s felt like summer for a few weeks now, but today we make it official. I hope you enjoy quality time with your family, travel safe and make smart water choices when staying hydrated and being Texas Water Smart.

To find Texas getaway destinations, visit gotexan.org. For tips on how you can be Texas Water Smart, go here.

Summer Meals Fight Year-Round Hunger

With summer break underway, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds us June 11-15 is National Summer Food Service Program Week.

Knowing hunger doesn’t take a vacation, this week and all summer long, we are working with USDA to raise awareness of nutritious, no-cost meals available to children who typically rely on school cafeterias to get the food they need to live healthy lives.

In Texas, local school districts, food banks, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations and others partner with the Texas Department of Agriculture to maintain meal sites for those in need. Some programs also include fun, recreational activities to keep kids active and entertained. With one in four Texas children considered food-insecure, these meal sites provide a much-needed service to families in need.

The goal of these programs is to not just provide for the immediate nourishment needs, but build a bridge that leads to healthy lives and self-sufficiency.

To find a feeding site near you, dial 2-1-1 or visit summerfood.org to ensure our Texas schoolchildren enjoy a happy, healthy summer. 

Hail Doesn’t Break Texas Agriculture’s Spirit

The drought and wildfires have been quite unkind this past year to the people who grow our food. According to Texas AgriLife, the recent historic drought and wildfires combined for a total agricultural loss of more than $8 billion.

Unfortunately, Texas agriculture recently suffered another blow when a hailstorm hammered West Texas on May 31, causing destruction on farms, personal property and our economy’s infrastructure.

In that destruction was the Village Farms greenhouse facility in Marfa. Village Farms Inc. is one of the largest producers of greenhouse-grown produce in the nation. The company reports its greenhouses that cover 82 acres in Marfa and Presido underwent substantial damage during the recent storm. While the company is still assessing the extent of the loss, it is expected that sections of its greenhouses will remain closed for a couple months. 

Fortunately for the company, the months of June and July mark the end of the annual crop cycles, which means crop and revenue losses will be at their lowest point. Better news for all involved is the fact no one was injured during the powerful hailstorm and Village Farms expects its facilities to be back up and running in a few months. 

Lubbock, Amarillo Join Texas Water Smart

They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, but in the case of water, I’d rather not find out. As part of the ongoing, Texas Water Smart conservation campaign, I recently joined state and local leaders in Lubbock and Amarillo to encourage Texans to adopt everyday habits to curb wasteful water usage. 

Our recent historic drought and booming population point to an unavoidable conclusion; it’s time all Texans take a serious look at individual water-use habits and find common-sense ways to conserve. Doing so is an investment in our drinking water, our food supply, our landscapes and Texas jobs.

Look around your home and place of business and fix water-wasting leaks; water your lawn and garden only in the morning or evening; and shorten shower times. These are just a few of the water-saving tips all of us can easily make part of our daily routines. And remember, a few drops saved, when multiplied by 26 million citizens, will go a long way toward being Texas Water Smart today, tomorrow and into the future.

For more helpful tips and information, visit www.TexasWaterSmart.com.

To see news coverage of Texas Water Smart events in Lubbock and Amarillo, go here.

StramitUSA Merges Agriculture, Innovation in Fort Worth

The recent opening of StramitUSA’s manufacturing facility in Fort Worth is a terrific example of innovation and agriculture coming together for a greater good.

The 88,000-square-foot facility was built to harness a manufacturing process that uses leftover straw from wheat harvests as a key ingredient in a construction material known as compressed agricultural fiber (CAF). Branded as Stramit CAFboard, the fiber-based building material can be used for insulation, particle board and sound-proofing panels in a variety of commercial and residential structures. 

This “upcycling” of straw is great news for Texas wheat farmers who now have an available market for a product that previously was burned or tilled under as waste. For StramitUSA, the end result is a completely organic construction product that is energy efficient, mold-resistant, sound-absorbent and fire resistant. 

StramitUSA expects the new Fort Worth facility to create 100 local jobs. Besides employment at the facility itself, StramitUSA will help support the surrounding construction industry and other building partners while offering an environmentally friendly product.

I’d like to thank StramitUSA for setting up shop in Fort Worth and hope that other enterprising industries will follow this innovative example of merging agriculture and industry.

Agriculture continues to touch our lives everyday in new and dynamic ways proving once again that agriculture is your culture.